Makeshift pool for small condo balcony

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to come up with a creative idea for the summer. We have a small balcony (4 feet deep, 12 feet wide) so I don't want to deal with a blow up baby pool, but was trying to think of some bucket/bathtub idea that we could fill up and splash around in (maybe even let my 18 month old stand/sit in).

Anyone have any creative ideas or product recommendations. The hardware store guys recommended a hard plastic rubbermaid bin, but before I went with that, was trying to think of something (particularly something slightly easier to empty)

Thanks

[Anonymous]

You need to check with your condo building before setting anything up on your balcony. The last thing you need us a fine or bad blood with neighbours.

[Anonymous]

maybe one of those large under the bed organizers someone recently mentioned on here? (from the container store or similar store)
Sometimes I also just set up a rubber mat for my toddler with some beach toys (and buckets filled with water) and she has fun.

[Anonymous]

Hi - you might want to consider the weight of the water as balconies have a weight limit. Also, you need to be aware of your neighbors downstairs as your DC may splash around a bit. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

What about a water table? Your child can't sit in it but my daughter LOVES splashing and playing with toys in hers.

[Anonymous]

When my DC was 5 months old, we used his bathtub as a pool on the balcony. Maybe you could find a bigger baby bathtub that would be large enough for your 18 month old?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks to everyone for the great ideas. I ended up finding this.

http://us.tubtrugs.com/collections/original (the small shallow one is big enough to stand or sit in, but more likely will just be used like a water table )

[Anonymous]

Another idea in addition to water play is to get a rubbermaid and fill it with sand so your LO has a little sand to dig in. World market sells tubs like the one you linked to in case you want to try it out.

[Anonymous]

What about a wash basin?

[Anonymous]

We use a rubbermaid under the bed box and dump a couple buckets of water in it. When water play is over we either cover it or empty it. If it is light enough that we can carry it inside and empty it out in the bathtub. If it has too much water in it and is too heavy, we can use some buckets to take some water out of it first. Sometimes we use two, so that they can transfer water from one to the next or we have one filled with boats, toy fish and water animals and the other with sponges/cups and a water tower.

Our balcony did get very wet (with two kids using sponges, watering cans, measuring cups, etc) but we had no complaints. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to double check with your lease or apartment/condo management though.

[Anonymous]

We did the water table which doubled as a sand table or pasta table...

Very messy but very fun...

I like the wash basin idea. DD's preschool always has them "washing" things. Walked in the other day and their hands were dunked in a bubbly tub washing plastic dinosaurs.